– Block party, pooch parade set for Sept. 27
The Greater Long Branch Chamber of Commerce’s sixth annual Long Branch Block Party and Pooch Parade will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, on Brighton Avenue, which will be closed between Ocean Boulevard and Second Avenue.
The family-oriented event will feature local food, crafters and children’s activities, such as bounce houses, truck exploration, fire truck rides, pumpkin painting and build a scarecrow.
A major highlight of the event is the 1 p.m. Pooch Parade, which will include a contest for costumed dogs in West End Park. Judging will be for the Best Overall Costume, with first-, second- and third-place winners. The first-place winner will receive a cash award.
To enter your dog for the contest, pick up an application from the Chamber office at 228 Broadway or stop in at Vanity Fur at 82 Brighton Ave. The entry fee is $5 per dog, with proceeds being donated to Wag On Inn Rescue of Oakhurst. Line-up will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Brighton Alley. All dogs must be registered for the event, and registration will be available until noon on day of event at the Chamber’s kiosk.
Central Jersey Bank will conduct the Scarecrow Building contest, which is open to all. Judging will be at 3 p.m. The scarecrows will be on display at the park through the weekend.
“Touch the Truck,” courtesy of the City of Long Branch Public Works fleet, will give children the opportunity to climb in, under and around various vehicles. The Long Branch Fire Department will offer fire truck rides.
Children can enjoy unlimited play in three bounce houses for a $10 bracelet fee.
For more information, call the Chamber at 732-222-0400 or email [email protected].
– Long Branch church to host choral concert
A “Choral Evensong for St. Michael and All Angels” will take place at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28, at St. James’ Episcopal Church, 300 Broadway, Long Branch. The choirs of St. James’ Church and Trinity Church in Asbury Park will sing the music of Tallis, Gibbons and Dering in celebration of Michaelmas.
Michaelmas is the Christian feast day of St. Michael the Archangel, which is celebrated in Western churches on Sept. 29. In medieval England, Michaelmas also marked the ending and beginning of the husbandman’s year.
All are welcome to attend. Light refreshments and fellowship will follow. Scones will replace the traditional Michaelmas bannock. Come and discover the history behind the Michaelmas bannock or “struan” and why one should be very careful not to break the cake before or after baking. For more information, call the parish administrator at 732-222-1411.
– Library’s programs for kids have a fall theme
The Eatontown Public Library is offering programs for children in October at 33 Broad St. Parents must remain in the library while children attend all programs.
• “Preschool Storytime Series” for children age 3 ½ to 5 will be held on Wednesdays, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 from 10-10:30 a.m.
• “Baby/Toddler Storytime” for children age 10 months to 3 ½ years old, with a parent or caregiver, will be held on Wednesdays, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 from 11-11:20 a.m.
• “Wednesday Afternoon Activity” for children age 5 and up is held each Wednesday from 4-4:30 p.m. Children can listen to stories and make crafts. Themes will include squirrels, scarecrows, drums, “Vlad” and pumpkins.
• “Bonk! Drum and Percussion Workshop for Kids” for children age 5 and up will be held from 4-4:45 p.m. Children will learn about and participate in expressive drumming. Space is limited for this program, and registration is required by stopping by the library or calling 732-389-2665.
For more information, visit www.eatontownnj.com/library.
– Food pantry to offer tours at open house
NEPTUNE — The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties will mark its 30th anniversary with a Community Open House 12:30-4:30 p.m. Oct. 2. Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend. Visitors are invited to bring a donation of nonperishable food.
Visitors can tour the FoodBank’s organic garden, warehouse and mobile pantry. Participants will learn how food is procured and distributed to more than 130,000 residents of Monmouth and Ocean counties. There will also be hands-on activities and demonstrations.
The FoodBank began in 1984 when a small group of people saw hunger at the Jersey Shore and decided to make a difference. They purchased a dilapidated warehouse in Spring Lake. Carpenters, masons and other members of the community donated work, office furniture and supplies. Food streamed in from hundreds of donors. After one year, the FoodBank was serving 25 charities with 100,000 pounds of food.
Ten years later, nearly 2 million pounds of food were being distributed annually from the same warehouse. Bursting at the seams, the FoodBank undertook a capital campaign in 1998 to construct a new facility in Neptune. Three years later, a 40,000-square-foot facility was built.
Today, the FoodBank distributes more than 10 million meals through a network of 300 feeding programs serving one out of 10 residents in Monmouth and Ocean counties. In addition to food distribution, the FoodBank works toward long-term solutions to the chronic problem of food insecurity with the Culinary Career Training Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program outreach, free tax preparation and nutrition education.
For more information, visit www.foodbankmoc.org or call 732-918-2600.
– VSA New Jersey seeks writers for competition
The Unlimited Potential Theater Co., a project of VSA New Jersey, is seeking poems, essays, short stories and plays for its 21st annual Joyce Indik New Jersey Wordsmith Competition.
The contest is open to all New Jersey writers age 18 and over. Submissions by writers with disabilities are encouraged.
All works will be juried by a panel of judges, and winning works will be showcased at the New Jersey Readers Theatre in the spring of 2015.
In lieu of an entry fee, a donation of any amount is welcomed to cover the cost of the competition.
To request an application, contact VSA Arts of New Jersey, 703 Jersey Ave., New Brunswick, NJ 08901; call 732-745-3885 or 732-745-3913 (TTY); email [email protected]; or visit www.vsanj.org.
The deadline for submissions is Sept. 29.
– YMCA to honor volunteers at benefit
SHREWSBURY — Eatontown residents Lynn and Steve “Biddy” Bidgood will be honored for their positive impact on the community at The Community YMCA’s annual benefit at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Camp Arrowhead in Marlboro.
The benefit will celebrate The Community YMCA’s 140th anniversary of service in Monmouth County and the many volunteers, donors, community organizations and members who have supported the organization’s mission to ensure that everyone — regardless of age, income or background — has access to life-changing YMCA programs and services.
The Bidgoods will be honored with the Distinguished Citizen Award, presented to those who demonstrate outstanding civic and volunteer leadership in the community. According to a press release, the Eatontown residents have dedicated much of their personal and professional lives to local community service. Through their charitable efforts, the Bidgoods have raised over $1 million for local organizations and have helped improve the quality of life for many of their fellow neighbors.
The Borough of Red Bank will be presented with the Community Partner Award, which honors organizations that support the YMCA’s efforts in the areas of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
Other volunteers, past and present, will also be recognized, including: Chester Apy and Thomas Register, both of Red Bank; Harry Greenwood of Middletown; Richard Maser of Long Branch; Dan Matarese and Chris Mosley, both of Marlboro; Jay Patock of Oceanport; and Dr. James W. Parker Sr. and his son, Dr. James W. Parker Jr., who are both deceased.
The benefit will begin with cocktails in the Carr Pavilion and music by Pat Roddy and Chris Giunco. Dinner by Merri-Makers Caterers will follow, along with dancing to the music of Tim McLoone and the Shirleys. The evening will include a look back at the YMCA’s 140 years of service, silent and live auctions and a 50/50 cash raffle.
For tickets, call 732-671-5505, ext. 119 or visit www.TheCommunityYMCA.org/Benefit.
– Library has programs for all in October
The Ocean Township Library is offering programs for all in October at 701 Deal Road. Registration is required for some programs by stopping at the reference desk or calling 732-531-5092.
• “Ocean Township Book Club: ‘The House Girl’ by Tara Conklin” will meet at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 7. Discuss the story of an escaped slave in the pre-Civil War South and a determined junior lawyer.
• “English Conversation Classes for Adults” will meet at 7 p.m. on Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28. The ongoing program focuses on vocabulary and pronunciation. Participants are asked to bring a pencil and notebook. Presented by the Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County.
• “Read to a Therapy Dog” for children in first grade and up will be at 4 p.m. Oct. 15. Read a story to a canine friend. Beginner and reluctant readers and their families are welcome. Registration is required.
• “Savvy Social Security Planning and Medicare Basics: Understanding Enrollment” for baby boomers will be held from 9:30 a.m. – noon Oct. 18. Learn details about eligibility requirements, benefits, special rules and more for Social Security and Medicare. Registration is requested.
• “Your Ghost Story” for tweens, teens and adults will begin at 7 p.m. Oct. 23. Professional actors from the Traveling Literary Theater will present a theatrical reading of spooky selections from Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” Saki’s “The Open Window,” Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Selecting a Ghost” and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.” Attired in period costumes, the performers will set the scene for each tale with a bit of history about the story and author. This production is not suitable for small children.
• “Haunted Halloween Bags” for children in grades K and up will be at 4:15 p.m. Oct. 29. Create spooky bags for trick-or-treating or toting books. Wearing old clothes is recommended.
For more information, visit www.monmouthcountylib.org.